Saturday, 31 December 2011
Sir Paul Ruddock, Tory donor and newly enobled knight of the realm, has a website. Check it out.
Hmm. So a multi millionnaire Tory donor who made a fortune short selling Northern Rock shares shortly before it crashed, has been given a knighthood for his philanathropic contribution to the arts.
Having read the headlines, I thought it sounded a bit of classic cash-for-honours type scenario. But I thought I'd do the decent thing and find out just what Sir Paul had done.
Helpfully, he has his own website, containing all his contributions in one place. This must have made it much easier for the honours committee to make their judgement. How thoughtful of him to provide it.
Do take a look. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether his work deserves a knighthood. I'd make a few observations mind...
1. He is chair of the V&A and spends (I quote) at least 10 hours a week working for them. This seems a relatively small amount of time in exchange for a knighthood.
2. He is a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is in America. Therefore, in my mind, doesn't count, Knighthood wise
3. He donates to the Walters Art Museum. Doesn't say how much. But anyway - this is based in America - doesn't count in my book for a UK honour.
4. He is the major donor to the new performing arts centre at King Edwards School in Birmingham. This is a private school. Worthy - but for a public honour, shouldn't count. If only he'd built the arts centre for his local academy, eh...you know, benefitting the kids on the local estate.
5. He got a First at Mansfield. This is listed on his philanthropy page, but I can't quite see why that's a philanthropic gesture. Certainly in the 'why I deserve a Knighthood' stakes - doesn't count..
Finally, Sir Paul does donate regularly to Afrikids, a charity working for African children. This does seem an entirely worthwhile cause and I take my hat off to him. Unfortunately, the knighthood hadn't been given for charity work - its for philanthropy to the arts. So for the purposes of making a judgement on how worthy Sir Paul is of his new honour - doesn't count.
So basically, I think he's been given a Knighthood for doing 500 hours a year at the V&A
I quite fancy that myself. Where do I apply?
Having read the headlines, I thought it sounded a bit of classic cash-for-honours type scenario. But I thought I'd do the decent thing and find out just what Sir Paul had done.
Helpfully, he has his own website, containing all his contributions in one place. This must have made it much easier for the honours committee to make their judgement. How thoughtful of him to provide it.
Do take a look. You can draw your own conclusions as to whether his work deserves a knighthood. I'd make a few observations mind...
1. He is chair of the V&A and spends (I quote) at least 10 hours a week working for them. This seems a relatively small amount of time in exchange for a knighthood.
2. He is a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This is in America. Therefore, in my mind, doesn't count, Knighthood wise
3. He donates to the Walters Art Museum. Doesn't say how much. But anyway - this is based in America - doesn't count in my book for a UK honour.
4. He is the major donor to the new performing arts centre at King Edwards School in Birmingham. This is a private school. Worthy - but for a public honour, shouldn't count. If only he'd built the arts centre for his local academy, eh...you know, benefitting the kids on the local estate.
5. He got a First at Mansfield. This is listed on his philanthropy page, but I can't quite see why that's a philanthropic gesture. Certainly in the 'why I deserve a Knighthood' stakes - doesn't count..
Finally, Sir Paul does donate regularly to Afrikids, a charity working for African children. This does seem an entirely worthwhile cause and I take my hat off to him. Unfortunately, the knighthood hadn't been given for charity work - its for philanthropy to the arts. So for the purposes of making a judgement on how worthy Sir Paul is of his new honour - doesn't count.
So basically, I think he's been given a Knighthood for doing 500 hours a year at the V&A
I quite fancy that myself. Where do I apply?
For 2012, I'd like Lib Dem backbenchers to start using some new words. Like 'Lickspittle'.
Over the last year, the Parliamentary Party has understood better that if we are to stand any chance electorally going forward, we have to be seen as principled, distinctive - and liberal.
Hence we have moved away from the idea of coalition government meaning ourselves and the Tories speaking as one on all issues - which was always a nonsense. We have adopted a new approach - with a modicum of success, at least in Tory eyes - of being seen as a break on the worst excesses of the Tories. And it is now rumoured that we will go even further in the differentiation strategy. - check out this piece in The New Statesman. I so hope this is true.
And as part of that, I'd like to see our backbenchers saying what they think rather more assertively.
A classic example of this was the pre Christmas statement on Europe (the one Nick didn't turn up for - which I still think was a huge mistake - he should have been there, shaking his head vigorously). In that session Jo Swinson did receive plaudits for her measured and sensible questionning of the PM, and got some coverage to boot. But the headlines went to the considerably more aggressive attacks from the Tory right on the backbenches - the Nadine Dorries and Philip Davies types (the latter calling us lickspittles).
We still, I think, as a party in parliament cling to a notion that we're all in this together. We still wrestle with the principles of collective responsibility in cabinet - an idea that I think should be often redundant in a coalition government anyway. But there's certainly no reason why we shouldn't be altogether more straightforward in expressing our views about the Tories from the backbenches.
It's not like we're brothers or anything.
Hence we have moved away from the idea of coalition government meaning ourselves and the Tories speaking as one on all issues - which was always a nonsense. We have adopted a new approach - with a modicum of success, at least in Tory eyes - of being seen as a break on the worst excesses of the Tories. And it is now rumoured that we will go even further in the differentiation strategy. - check out this piece in The New Statesman. I so hope this is true.
And as part of that, I'd like to see our backbenchers saying what they think rather more assertively.
A classic example of this was the pre Christmas statement on Europe (the one Nick didn't turn up for - which I still think was a huge mistake - he should have been there, shaking his head vigorously). In that session Jo Swinson did receive plaudits for her measured and sensible questionning of the PM, and got some coverage to boot. But the headlines went to the considerably more aggressive attacks from the Tory right on the backbenches - the Nadine Dorries and Philip Davies types (the latter calling us lickspittles).
We still, I think, as a party in parliament cling to a notion that we're all in this together. We still wrestle with the principles of collective responsibility in cabinet - an idea that I think should be often redundant in a coalition government anyway. But there's certainly no reason why we shouldn't be altogether more straightforward in expressing our views about the Tories from the backbenches.
It's not like we're brothers or anything.
Thursday, 29 December 2011
I may have got it wrong about Mary Portas
The end of the year is always a good time to right a few wrongs...so can I say 'sorry' to Mary Portas?
I wondered about the decision to commission her to rejuvinate our High Streets earlier this year - and said so on here.
But since then I've seen David Mitchell put his hands up and say he may have got this wrong...
And since then her report has come out, making numerous sensible and progressive suggestions, to general applause all round.
While she may not have all the answers, she has produced a detailed, well thought through and excellent report.
So sorry Mary.
Going back to my original article however, I still don't want Graham Norton to do a review of the arts
I wondered about the decision to commission her to rejuvinate our High Streets earlier this year - and said so on here.
But since then I've seen David Mitchell put his hands up and say he may have got this wrong...
And since then her report has come out, making numerous sensible and progressive suggestions, to general applause all round.
While she may not have all the answers, she has produced a detailed, well thought through and excellent report.
So sorry Mary.
Going back to my original article however, I still don't want Graham Norton to do a review of the arts
Wednesday, 28 December 2011
Nick Clegg's New Year Message (slightly less cheerier than Tim Farron's...).
Dear Richard,
This time last year I spoke about how the most important job for Liberal Democrats was dealing with the economic problems we inherited. 12 months on, that task remains the number one priority for our party and the Coalition.
We have had to make some very difficult decisions, but they've been the right ones for the long term good of our country.
But that economic rescue mission is not over yet. That's why, thanks to the Liberal Democrats, the Coalition has been helping people get through these difficult times with measures to make life fairer and easier.
2011 was the year we lifted nearly a million low paid workers out of paying income tax altogether and cut taxes for 23m people - because I believe putting money back into peoples pockets makes all the difference.
It was the year more than a million children got a fairer start in life, with extra support at school through our Pupil Premium and free early years education for toddlers - because I believe that helping the youngest take their first steps in life makes all the difference.
It was the year we guaranteed pensioners a decent increase in their pension - because I believe dignity in retirement makes all the difference.
Throughout, we have taken big long-term decisions that will change the way our economy works for the better - rebalancing it away from the City of London towards stronger, more sustainable growth.
And next year we will do more. The world's first Green Investment Bank putting millions into green jobs and growth; our youth contract to get every young person out of work earning or learning; more apprenticeships than this country has ever had before; and we will take further steps to make our tax system fairer too.
What we're doing as a party, and as a Coalition, it's not easy, but it's right. We are putting the interests of the country first, and we have taken the first steps towards building a fairer, greener and more liberal country.
The next year will be one that poses many great challenges for everyone in Britain, but I know we must continue to do what's right for our country.
And with that, I wish you all a very happy New Year.
Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister
This time last year I spoke about how the most important job for Liberal Democrats was dealing with the economic problems we inherited. 12 months on, that task remains the number one priority for our party and the Coalition.
We have had to make some very difficult decisions, but they've been the right ones for the long term good of our country.
But that economic rescue mission is not over yet. That's why, thanks to the Liberal Democrats, the Coalition has been helping people get through these difficult times with measures to make life fairer and easier.
2011 was the year we lifted nearly a million low paid workers out of paying income tax altogether and cut taxes for 23m people - because I believe putting money back into peoples pockets makes all the difference.
It was the year more than a million children got a fairer start in life, with extra support at school through our Pupil Premium and free early years education for toddlers - because I believe that helping the youngest take their first steps in life makes all the difference.
It was the year we guaranteed pensioners a decent increase in their pension - because I believe dignity in retirement makes all the difference.
Throughout, we have taken big long-term decisions that will change the way our economy works for the better - rebalancing it away from the City of London towards stronger, more sustainable growth.
And next year we will do more. The world's first Green Investment Bank putting millions into green jobs and growth; our youth contract to get every young person out of work earning or learning; more apprenticeships than this country has ever had before; and we will take further steps to make our tax system fairer too.
What we're doing as a party, and as a Coalition, it's not easy, but it's right. We are putting the interests of the country first, and we have taken the first steps towards building a fairer, greener and more liberal country.
The next year will be one that poses many great challenges for everyone in Britain, but I know we must continue to do what's right for our country.
And with that, I wish you all a very happy New Year.
Nick Clegg MP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister
Tuesday, 27 December 2011
Please Vote one more time in the Channel Four News poll for 'who changed the world in 2011'
Mohammad Al Bouazizi has now featured heavily in 2 "Person of the Year' awards - through Time Magazine and the Financial Times.
Channel Four News will announce the results if their poll of who changed the world the most in 2011 - please read here why Mohamed Al Bouazizi should win this poll, and then vote for him here
Thanks
Channel Four News will announce the results if their poll of who changed the world the most in 2011 - please read here why Mohamed Al Bouazizi should win this poll, and then vote for him here
Thanks
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